Sonnet 21421

by Talia Marshall and Natalie Peek

Another semester, another set of zoom crushes. Who will be the lucky person that inspires you to tell them you will be their spaniel, which Romeo’s zoom window will you throw pebbles at? Regardless, rather than abandon all of your values for love like Taming of The Shrew’s Kate, why not reflect with some modern Shakespeare?

Apparently, the Bard wrote King Lear during the Plague. To our knowledge, he was not also attending zoom classes and falling in love. So, all we have to offer you is Sonnet 21421 (My zoom crush’s square is a rectangle). Please don’t throw any tomatoes at us.

Sonnet 21421

My zoom crush’s square is a rectangle

In breakout rooms, we sit deep in silence

My hatred, this love, I must untangle

In private chats, a shaky alliance

Window to your soul, I pray, a zoom react!

I crave not a flower, nor some sunlight

Through the camera, we might make eye contact

For then my heart will taketh first flight

Their points in class are honestly divine

Their silent laugh, their microphone muted

I hope and I pray I might cross their mind

Their wifi slow, from the call they’re booted

I sit and wonder if this world is fake

I am narcissus, my zoom square my lake

Hope your Valentine’s day isn’t as sucky, perhaps you will be more lucky.

Xoxo, Talia and Natalie